Lens grinding machine

ABSTRACT

A lens polishing and/or grinding machine comprising a base, and means for supporting a spindle above the base, comprising a post mounted on the base for oscillation about its vertical axis and for heightwise adjustment thereon, an arm mounted at the upper end of the post for adjustment about a horizontal axis at right angles to the axis of the post, and means at the distal end of the arm for holding the spindle.

United States Patent Inventors Lindsay M. Ball References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Passmore Simpson Simpson.... Duffens Powell.... Dillon Collar Voice Primary ExaminerWilliam R. Armstrong Atlorney-Roberts, Cushman & Grover ABSTRACT: A lens polishing and/or grinding machine comprising a base, and means for supporting a spindle above the base, comprising a post mounted on the base for oscillation about its vertical axis and for heightwise adjustment thereon, an arm mounted at the upper end of the post for adjustment about a horizontal axis at right angles to the axis of the post, and means at the distal end of the arm for holding the spindle.

PATENTED AUG 3 IBYI SHEET 2 OF 2 LENS GRINDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Current lens polishing and/or grinding apparatus and/or machines are for the most part cumbersome, difficult to adjust and ill adapted for commercial production of lenses. The apparatus herein illustrated is designed especially to enable making adjustments quickly and easily and hence to adapt the apparatus to commercial use; to embody a high degree of precision; to comprise relatively few component parts; to be relatively inexpensive to manufacture; to require a minimum amount of maintenance; and to be attractive in appearance.

SUMMARY In accordance with the invention the spindle mount comprises a bearing adapted to be fixed to a base, said bearing containing a vertical opening, a bearing sleeve rotatably mounted in the opening in the bearing, said bearing sleeve containing an opening concentric with the opening in the bearing which is rectangular or square in cross section, a post of rectangular or square cross section mounted in the opening in the bearing sleeve, an arm mounted at the upper end of the post with one end secured to the post and the other end extending laterally therefrom, an arm secured at one end to the bearing sleeve diametrically opposite the arm at the top of the post, said latter arm being adapted to oscillate the bearing sleeve and hence the post about its axis, a gib set into the sleeve at one corner of the opening therein against the post,

and a screw threaded radially into the sleeve against the gib operable by rotation to set the gib against the post to hold the latter at a predetermined height in the bearing sleeve. The bearing sleeve has at its upper end a radial flange adapted to rest on the upper end of the bearing and the latter comprises a hollow housing containing at itslower and upper ends bearing assemblies for rotatably receiving the bearing sleeve. The bearing assemblies are set into the housing in recesses at the lower and upper ends and are held axially spaced therein by a spacer mounted between them. The gib comprises a block set into the bearing sleeve diagonally of the rectangular opening therein which contains at one end a right-angle notch adapted to embrace the corner of the post situated in the sleeve. The screw is threaded into the sleeve on a diagonal to the opening against the outer end of the gib. The arm at the top of the post comprises a yoke secured midway between its ends to the upper end of the post providing transversely spaced, horizontally disposed threaded openings at the opposite ends situated forwardly of and parallel to the-back of the yoke in which are mounted bearing pins with their ends opposed, and a T-bar pivotally mounted with its head between the opposed ends of the bearing pins and its leg extending outwardly therefrom above the base. The head has a shoulder situated below the axis of the bearing pins parallel to the post and an adjusting screw is threaded through the post against the shoulder and is operable to adjust the level of the leg. The other arm com prises a drive plate having an arcuate end adapted to be bolted to the radial flange at the upper end of the bearing sleeve and an arcuate slot at its distal end'adapted to be connected to an eccentric for oscillation.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus showing the base and mounting assembly for the spindle;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a frontview of the apparatus;

FIG. d is an enlarged elevation partly in section of the spindle mounting assembly;

FIG. Sis a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line Y 6-6 ofFlG. 4.

polished or ground, and a mounting assembly 14 for mounting the spindle to which carries the lens polishing or grinding pad.

The base lid) is of rectangular horizontal section, is supported by adjustable legs 18 to make it level and has a horizon tal rigid counter top 20 and an inclined apron 22 at the front on which are mounted control knobs 22a for effecting its operation.

The lens support I2 is of conventional design and is mounted near the front substantially midway between the opposite sides. Further description of this is not required.

The spindle-mounting assembly 1-4 comprises a cylindrical housing 24 (FIG. 4) containing a circular opening 26. The housing has at its lower end a radial flange 28 by means of which it is secured in a circular opening 30 in the counter top over a mounting plate 32 containing an opening 34 of smaller diameter than the opening 26 which provides a shoulder 36 at the lower end of the housing. The lower and upper ends of the housing contain annular recesses 38 and 40 in which are mounted bearing assemblies 42 and 44, the lower hearing assembly 42 resting on the shoulder 36. A hearing sleeve 46 is mounted in the bearing assemblies and has at its upper end a radial flange 48 which rests on the upper bearing assembly 44 at the top of the housing. The lower end ofthe sleeve contains a groove 50 in which there is sprung a lock washer 52, the latter engaging the underside of the lower bearing assembly 4L2.

The bearing sleeve d6 contains an axial opening 46a which is of rectangular or square cross section in which there is mounted a post 54 also of rectangular or square cross section. An arm 56 is mounted on the upper end of the post and this arm comprises a yoke 58 (FIG. 2) comprising a transverse back 580 having at its opposite ends forwardly extending arms 5812-58. The back 58a contains a vertical opening 60 midway between its ends for receiving an attaching bolt 62 inserted through it and screwed into the upper end of the post 54. The forwardly extending arms 58b-58b contain horizontally disposed, aligned threaded openings 57 (FIG. 5) in which there are screwed bearing pins 68, the opposed inner ends of which provide conical bearing points 70. Locknuts 68a provide for locking the bearing pins 68 in position. The back of the yoke is reinforced at its upper side by spaced parallel fins 72-72 situated at opposite sides of the center hole 60. A T-bar 76 having a head 76a and leg 76b is mounted between the bearing pins with its head 76a situated therebetween. The opposite ends of the head are provided with conical recesses 78-78 for rotatably receiving the conical ends of the bearing pins 63. The leg 76b of the T-bar extends laterally outward from the head above the base, and contains at its distal end an axial opening 30 (FIG. 4) in which there is mounted a shaft 82 provided with a head 84 containing a vertical opening 86 for receiving the spindle 116. The shaft 82 is adjustable in the axial opening lengthwise of the leg and a clamp screw 88 threaded into the leg against the shaft 82 provides for fixing it in a given adjusted position. To prevent rotation of the shaft a key 80a is mounted in the axial opening 80 so as to project into a slot @Za in the shaft 82. The spindle 16 is adjustable in the head 84 and a clamp screw 90 is provided for fixing the spindle in a given adjusted position. The head of the T-bar has a downwardly projecting portion 92 parallel to the post and an adjusting screw 94! is threaded through the post and has on its forward end a shoe 96 (FIG. 4) which bears against the portion 92. A head 98 on the screw provides for rotating it to adjust the arm 56 upwardly and downwardly about the axes of the bearing pins and a locknut 100 provides for fixing the screw M in its adjusted position.

The post 5 1i is locked in a given heightwise position by a gib 1102 (FIG. 6) set into the radial flange 48, the gib having an inner end containing a right-angular notch 104 which embraces a corner of the post and an outer end 106 adapted to be engaged by the inner end of a clamp screw 108 threaded into the flange. The clamp screw is provided with a head 110 by means of which it may be rotated to force the gib against the post or to release it therefrom and is mounted in a'threaded opening 112 which is diagonal to the opening in the sleeve.

The post 54 is oscillated by oscillation of the sleeve 46 and this in turn is oscillated by a drive plate 114 having at one end a circular flange 116 which is fastened to the radial flange 48 of the sleeve by bolts 118 and at its opposite end an arcuate groove 120 which is connected by an adjustable pivot pin 1220 (FIG. 1) to one end of a link 122, the opposite end of which is connected by an adjustable pivot pin l22b to an cecentric'128 mounted at the upper end of a shaft 130. The shaft 130 extends downwardly through the counter top into the base and is there connected by suitable means to an electric motor (not shown).

The mounting for the spindle as thus described is comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain and yet provides a high degree of repeatable accuracy in precision, is immuned to bending and twisting, and is easily adjustable.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A mount for the spindle of a lens polishing and/or grinding machine comprising a bearing adapted to be fixed to a base, said bearing containing a vertical opening, a bearing sleeve rotatably mounted in the opening in said bearing, said bearing sleeve containing an opening of rectangular cross section concentric with the opening in the bearing, a post of rectangular cross section mounted in said opening in the bearing sleeve, an arm mounted at the upper end of the post with one end secured to the post and the other end extending laterally therefrom, a second arm secured at one end to the bearing sleeve diametrically opposite the arm at the top of the post, said latter am being adapted to oscillate the bearing sleeve and hence the post about its axis, a gib set into the sleeve at one corner of the opening against the post, and a lock screw threaded radially into the bearing sleeve against the gib operable, by rotation, to set the gib against the post to hold the latter at a predetermined height in the bearing sleeve.

2. A mount according to claim I, wherein the bearing sleeve has at its upper end a radial flange adapted to rest on the upper end of the bearing.

3. A mount according to claim I, wherein the bearing comprises a hollow housing containing at its lower and upper ends bearing assemblies for rotatably receiving the bearing sleeve.

4. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the bearing comprises a hollow housing provided with a radial flange at its lower end by means of which it is adapted to be bolted to the base, annular recesses at its lower and upper ends, bearing assemblies seated in said annular recesses, said assemblies being adapted to rotatably receive the bearing sleeve, and a spacer mounted between the bearing assemblies.

5. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the gib comprises a block set into the sleeve at one corner of the opening therein, said gib containing at one end a right angle notch adapted to embrace the corner of the post situated in the sleeve and a screw threaded into the sleeve on a diagonal to the opening against the outer end of the gib operable to-force the gib against the post.

6. A mount according to claim 1, wherein said arm comprises a yoke secured midway between its ends on the upper end of the post, aligned transversely spaced, horizontally disposed threaded openings at the opposite ends of the yoke, said openings being situated forwardly of and parallel to the yoke, bearing screws set into said openings with their ends opposed, a T-bar pivotally supported with its head end between the opposed ends of the bearing screws and its leg extending outwardly therefrom, said head having a shoulder situated below the axis of the screws parallel to the post, and an adjusting screw threaded through the post against said shoulder, said screw being operable to adjust the level of the leg.

7. A mount according to claim 1, wherein'the second arm comprises a drive plate having an arcuate end adapted to be bolted to the radial flange at the upper end of the sleeve and an arcuate slot at its distal end operable to be connected to a crank.

8. A mount for the oscillating spindle of a lens polishing and/or grinding machine comprising a post of rectangular cross section, a base, means on the base for supporting the post for movement vertically relative thereto and for movement in rotation about its vertical axis, an articulated arm mounted at one end to the upper end of the post comprising a yoke fixed to the post, said yoke having a back and spaced parallel, forwardly extending arms at its ends, a T-bar pivotally mounted with its head between said arms for rotation about a horizontal axis and with its leg extending radially outwardly from the axis of the post, said leg containing an axial opening, a shaft telescopically mounted in the opening for adjustment lengthwise of the leg, said spindle being adjustably mounted in the opening in said shaft, said articulated arm being movable with the post heightwise of the base and rotatable with the post about said vertical axis, means for fixing the post at a predetermined position heightwise of the base, and means connected to said post supporting means operable to effect oscillation of the post and hence the spindle-supporting articulated arm. a 

1. A mount for the spindle of a lens polishing and/or grinding machine comprising a bearing adapted to be fixed to a base, said bearing containing a vertical opening, a bearing sleeve rotatably mounted in the opening in said bearing, said bearing sleeve containing an opening of rectangular cross section concentric with the opening in the bearing, a post of rectangular cross section mounted in said opening in the bearing sleeve, an arm mounted at the upper end of the post with one end secured to the post and the other end extending laterally therefrom, a second arm secured at one end to the bearing sleeve diametrically opposite the arm at the top of the post, said latter arm being adapted to oscillate the bearing sleeve and hence the post about its axis, a gib set into the sleeve at one corner of the opening against the post, and a lock screw threaded radially into the bearing sleeve against the gib operable, by rotation, to set the gib against the post to hold the latter at a predetermined height in the bearing sleeve.
 2. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the bearing sleeve has at its upper end a radial flange adapted to rest on the upper end of the bearing.
 3. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the bearing comprises a hollow housing containing at its lower and upper ends bearing assemblies for rotatably receiving the bearing sleeve.
 4. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the bearing comprises a hollow housing provided with a radial flange at its lower end by means of which it is adapted to be bolted to the base, annular recesses at its lower and upper ends, bearing assemblies seated in said annular recesses, said assemblies being adapted to rotatably receive the bearing sleeve, and a spacer mounted between the bearing assemblies.
 5. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the gib comprises a block set into the sleeve at one corner of the opening therein, said gib containing at one end a right angle notch adapted to embrace the corner of the post situated in the sleeve and a screw threaded into the sleeve on a diagonal to the opening against the outer end of the gib operable to force the gib against the post.
 6. A mount according to claim 1, wherein said arm comprises a yoke secured midway between its ends on the upper end of the post, aligned transversely spaced, horizontally disposed threaded openings at the opposite ends of the yoke, said openings being situated forwardly of and parallel to the yoke, bearing screws set into said openings with their ends opposed, a T-bar pivotally supported with its head end between the opposed ends of the bearing screws and its leg extending outwardly therefrom, said head having a shoulder situated below the axis of the screws parallel to the post, and an adjusting screw threaded through the post against said shoulder, said screw being operable to adjust the level of the leg.
 7. A mount according to claim 1, wherein the second arm comprises a drive plate having an arcuate end adapted to be bolted to the radial flange at the upper end of the sleeve and an arcuate slot at its distal end operable to be connected to a crank.
 8. A mount for the oscillating spindle of a lens polishing and/or grinding machine comprising a post of rectangular cross section, a base, means on the base for supporting the post for movement vertically relative thereto and for movement in rotation about its vertical axis, an articulated arm mounted at one end to the upper end of the post comprising a yoke fixed to the post, said yoke having a back and spaced parallel, forwardly extending arms at its ends, a T-bar pivotally mounted with its head between said arms for rotation about a horizontal axis and with its leg extending radially outwardly from the axis of the post, said leg containing an axial opening, a shaft telescopically mounted in the opening for adjustment lengthwise of the leg, said spindle being adjustably mounted in the opening in said shaft, said articulated arm being movable with the post heightwise of the base and rotatable with the post about said vertical axis, means for fixing the post at a predetermined position heightwise of the base, and means connected to said post supporting means operable to effect oscillation of the post and hence the spindle-supporting articulated arm. 